Dear Arts & Science undergraduate students,
Yesterday, you received the news that the University of Toronto has made the difficult decision to cancel June Convocation. The University did not make this decision lightly, and it was based on the expertise of public health experts, many of whom are here at U of T.
I know that you and your loved ones are greatly disappointed. You’ve worked so hard and dedicated so much to complete your degree, and you and your families have sacrificed a great deal to get you to this major moment in your life. For all of these reasons, you want to celebrate this achievement, and you want to do this with your fellow students, your professors, and with the entire university. Believe me, you’re not alone in wanting this, and I want to celebrate with you too.
I write to tell you that the University of Toronto, A&S and your colleges are committed to marking your achievement with an in-person ceremony and celebration. The event (or events) may not look like the traditional U of T Convocation, but I assure you that when it happens, it will be a special occasion.
As I’m sure you can appreciate, we need to plan in ways we weren’t expecting, which includes understanding the possible timelines and formats for such an event(s), given the current situation. I ask for your patience as we work this out. We will keep you informed and want to hear from you as part of this process.
You will already remember the last term of your university studies for the rest of your lives. Finding a good and meaningful way to recognize what you have achieved at the University of Toronto, including this last term, is something we are committed to as your academic community.
With best wishes,
Melanie
Melanie A. Woodin
Dean, Faculty of Arts & Science
Professor, Department of Cell & Systems Biology
University of Toronto